The first woman was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1917.
Montana had granted women’s suffrage in 1914.
Three years later, they elected Jeanette Rankin to serve in Congress. She served twice: from 1917 to 1919, and again in 1943.
Rankin is also remembered for being the only congressional vote against American entry into the world wars.
In 1941, during the roll call in Congress, she memorably declared:
“As a woman, I can’t go to war, and I refuse to send anyone else.”
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